Hi all:

I have a 2600 sq ft 2 story home built in 1846. I also have cast iron
radiators in both floors, which are the primary heat source. We have an oil
fired boiler which is five years old & 87% efficient att last measurement.
We would like to convert to radiant floor heat as we have total access to
the underside of the first floor. Anyone have experience/advice on
retrofit of a radian heat system in older homes?

Randy

Do a cost analysis on Ng to elect usually Elect is much more costly by
2.5x for me

I also have a boiler and hot water baseboard. When I finished the basement
recently, I installed radiant floor heat. I run 90 deg water through the
system. I have a mixing valve installed between the hot of the boiler and
the return of the loops. Water comes back at 85 deg and the boiler mixes
enough hot back in to bring it back to 90 deg. Check out
www.radiantcompany.com . They are out of Vermont. I purchased most materials
through them. They also figured out what size pex I needed, how many loops,
size pump. They also had a form you could fill out online which will give
you a better idea of cost equipment needed with no obligation to buy. Give
them a call. They were super friendy and helpful. By the way, Radiant floor
heat is the best heat I ever felt.
"Randy Bishop" wrote in message
...
Hi all:

I have a 2600 sq ft 2 story home built in 1846. I also have cast iron
radiators in both floors, which are the primary heat source. We have an
oil
fired boiler which is five years old & 87% efficient att last measurement.
We would like to convert to radiant floor heat as we have total access to
the underside of the first floor. Anyone have experience/advice on
retrofit of a radian heat system in older homes?

Randy

Oh my heavens!

"Beeper" wrote in message
...
I also have a boiler and hot water baseboard. When I finished the basement
recently, I installed radiant floor heat. I run 90 deg water through the
system. I have a mixing valve installed between the hot of the boiler and
the return of the loops. Water comes back at 85 deg and the boiler mixes
enough hot back in to bring it back to 90 deg. Check out
www.radiantcompany.com . They are out of Vermont. I purchased most
materials
through them.

You got ripped off!

They also figured out what size pex I needed, how many loops,
size pump. They also had a form you could fill out online which will give
you a better idea of cost equipment needed with no obligation to buy. Give
them a call. They were super friendy and helpful. By the way, Radiant
floor
heat is the best heat I ever felt.

You are one of the few ones that didn't have a problem with them. Go to the
Wall (http://forums.invision.net/Main.cfm?CFApp=2) and put 'Vermont company'
and 'radiant company' in the search function. Look at the responses.

Radiant heat is the best, in that statement you are very correct.


"Randy Bishop" wrote in message
...
Hi all:

I have a 2600 sq ft 2 story home built in 1846. I also have cast iron
radiators in both floors, which are the primary heat source. We have an
oil
fired boiler which is five years old & 87% efficient att last
measurement.
We would like to convert to radiant floor heat as we have total access
to
the underside of the first floor. Anyone have experience/advice on
retrofit of a radian heat system in older homes?

Randy

Ripped off? In some ways you are probably correct. I wasn't familiar with
the systems but I wanted one. Once I saw the manifolds they sell you I
realized I could have done my own thing. 5 300 ft lengths of 1/2 pex tubing
was right on with what I could buy around here. But the local heating supply
company's didn't want to bother with you if you weren't a contractor. They
told me that. So I thumbed my nose at them and bought out of state. If what
you say is true then I feel pretty lucky because I had great service from
radiantcompany and haven't had a problem yet. Their tech did tell me to put
130 deg water through the pex, But a local contractor I know told me I'd be
better off with 90 deg. I tried both and 90 is better.
"HeatMan" wrote in message
. ..
Oh my heavens!

"Beeper" wrote in message
...
I also have a boiler and hot water baseboard. When I finished the
basement
recently, I installed radiant floor heat. I run 90 deg water through the
system. I have a mixing valve installed between the hot of the boiler and
the return of the loops. Water comes back at 85 deg and the boiler mixes
enough hot back in to bring it back to 90 deg. Check out
www.radiantcompany.com . They are out of Vermont. I purchased most
materials
through them.

You got ripped off!

They also figured out what size pex I needed, how many loops,
size pump. They also had a form you could fill out online which will give
you a better idea of cost equipment needed with no obligation to buy.
Give
them a call. They were super friendy and helpful. By the way, Radiant
floor
heat is the best heat I ever felt.

You are one of the few ones that didn't have a problem with them. Go to
the
Wall (http://forums.invision.net/Main.cfm?CFApp=2) and put 'Vermont
company'
and 'radiant company' in the search function. Look at the responses.

Radiant heat is the best, in that statement you are very correct.


"Randy Bishop" wrote in message
...
Hi all:

I have a 2600 sq ft 2 story home built in 1846. I also have cast iron
radiators in both floors, which are the primary heat source. We have an
oil
fired boiler which is five years old & 87% efficient att last
measurement.
We would like to convert to radiant floor heat as we have total access
to
the underside of the first floor. Anyone have experience/advice on
retrofit of a radian heat system in older homes?

Randy

You were one of the lucky ones. If you needed any tech support, you would
have been SOL. Besides, did you Vermont company (or you) run a heat loss on
your place? [no]

One of the benefits of radiant is lower water temps.


"Beeper" wrote in message
...
Ripped off? In some ways you are probably correct. I wasn't familiar with
the systems but I wanted one. Once I saw the manifolds they sell you I
realized I could have done my own thing. 5 300 ft lengths of 1/2 pex
tubing
was right on with what I could buy around here. But the local heating
supply
company's didn't want to bother with you if you weren't a contractor. They
told me that. So I thumbed my nose at them and bought out of state. If
what
you say is true then I feel pretty lucky because I had great service from
radiantcompany and haven't had a problem yet. Their tech did tell me to
put
130 deg water through the pex, But a local contractor I know told me I'd
be
better off with 90 deg. I tried both and 90 is better.


"HeatMan" wrote in message
. ..
Oh my heavens!

"Beeper" wrote in message
...
I also have a boiler and hot water baseboard. When I finished the
basement
recently, I installed radiant floor heat. I run 90 deg water through
the
system. I have a mixing valve installed between the hot of the boiler
and
the return of the loops. Water comes back at 85 deg and the boiler
mixes
enough hot back in to bring it back to 90 deg. Check out
www.radiantcompany.com . They are out of Vermont. I purchased most
materials
through them.

You got ripped off!

They also figured out what size pex I needed, how many loops,
size pump. They also had a form you could fill out online which will
give
you a better idea of cost equipment needed with no obligation to buy.
Give
them a call. They were super friendy and helpful. By the way, Radiant
floor
heat is the best heat I ever felt.

You are one of the few ones that didn't have a problem with them. Go to
the
Wall (http://forums.invision.net/Main.cfm?CFApp=2) and put 'Vermont
company'
and 'radiant company' in the search function. Look at the responses.

Radiant heat is the best, in that statement you are very correct.


"Randy Bishop" wrote in message
...
Hi all:

I have a 2600 sq ft 2 story home built in 1846. I also have cast
iron
radiators in both floors, which are the primary heat source. We have
an
oil
fired boiler which is five years old & 87% efficient att last
measurement.
We would like to convert to radiant floor heat as we have total
access
to
the underside of the first floor. Anyone have experience/advice on
retrofit of a radian heat system in older homes?

Randy

I went to the site you pointed out and read an hour worth of ****ing and
moaning by contractors about DIYers. I did not find in any one post that
pointed out radiantcompany of vermont as a problem. There was 1 general
statement about a company in vermont, but I'm sure there is a few. I did my
homework before I started and now have a fine running system. Could it be
you are one of those contractors ****ing and moaning because someone didn't
pay you 30-40 dollars an hour to screw down 750 conduit straps to hold the
pex in place for a gypcrete pour over an existing concrete slab? At 30 $ an
hour, that alone would have ran me $1000. I was told by a local contractor
starting into the radiant business, that the system I installed would have
ran $12,000-$16,000 by most of the thieves in the business. When all was
said and done, total costs to me $3,700. (the gyprcrete pour was $2,500 of
that $3,700.
"HeatMan" wrote in message
. ..
Oh my heavens!

"Beeper" wrote in message
...
I also have a boiler and hot water baseboard. When I finished the
basement
recently, I installed radiant floor heat. I run 90 deg water through the
system. I have a mixing valve installed between the hot of the boiler and
the return of the loops. Water comes back at 85 deg and the boiler mixes
enough hot back in to bring it back to 90 deg. Check out
www.radiantcompany.com . They are out of Vermont. I purchased most
materials
through them.

You got ripped off!

They also figured out what size pex I needed, how many loops,
size pump. They also had a form you could fill out online which will give
you a better idea of cost equipment needed with no obligation to buy.
Give
them a call. They were super friendy and helpful. By the way, Radiant
floor
heat is the best heat I ever felt.

You are one of the few ones that didn't have a problem with them. Go to
the
Wall (http://forums.invision.net/Main.cfm?CFApp=2) and put 'Vermont
company'
and 'radiant company' in the search function. Look at the responses.

Radiant heat is the best, in that statement you are very correct.


"Randy Bishop" wrote in message
...
Hi all:

I have a 2600 sq ft 2 story home built in 1846. I also have cast iron
radiators in both floors, which are the primary heat source. We have an
oil
fired boiler which is five years old & 87% efficient att last
measurement.
We would like to convert to radiant floor heat as we have total access
to
the underside of the first floor. Anyone have experience/advice on
retrofit of a radian heat system in older homes?

Randy

"Beeper" wrote in message
...
At 30 $ an hour, that alone would have ran me $1000.


That's cheap. Most would charge $50 an hour.

Ed, that still doesn't scratch what I would have charged, but hey, as the
poster said he accuses all of us HVAC guys as being thieves. Heck if what
we are is thieves whazt he heck is McDonalds with 4 times the Mark-up on
material as HVAC contractors. I truly resent the remark as all of us being
thieves. Beeper you can contact me off group if you would like a list of
all of our costs and overhead.

How long did it take you to install? What do you make per hour at work?
How much does it cost your employer to employ you? How much are your
unemployment and workmans comp rates, how much is you business insurance,
how much are your licenses and permits, how many trucks do you have to keep
ion good shape and operational, uniforms, tools, bad debts, what kind of
profit margin (after taxes) do you think we really make, what standard of
living do you think we deserve.

--
Bob Pietrangelo


www.comfort-solution.biz
On Time or Your Service Call is FREE
Preventive Maintenance Specialist




"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message
...

"Beeper" wrote in message
...
At 30 $ an hour, that alone would have ran me $1000.


That's cheap. Most would charge $50 an hour.

No one there '****es and moans' about DIY's. We just don't like DIY's that
call us back after the mail order radiant systems don't work right either
from the error of the company that sold it to them or installation error.
Usually, the cost of fixing most errors ends up being more than the
installation would have cost if a trained, licensed contractor had done the
install to start with.

Oh, do you have an open system or a closed system? It makes a big
difference


"Beeper" wrote in message
...
I went to the site you pointed out and read an hour worth of ****ing and
moaning by contractors about DIYers. I did not find in any one post that
pointed out radiantcompany of vermont as a problem. There was 1 general
statement about a company in vermont, but I'm sure there is a few. I did
my
homework before I started and now have a fine running system. Could it be
you are one of those contractors ****ing and moaning because someone
didn't
pay you 30-40 dollars an hour to screw down 750 conduit straps to hold the
pex in place for a gypcrete pour over an existing concrete slab? At 30 $
an
hour, that alone would have ran me $1000. I was told by a local contractor
starting into the radiant business, that the system I installed would have
ran $12,000-$16,000 by most of the thieves in the business. When all was
said and done, total costs to me $3,700. (the gyprcrete pour was $2,500 of
that $3,700.
"HeatMan" wrote in message
. ..
Oh my heavens!

"Beeper" wrote in message
...
I also have a boiler and hot water baseboard. When I finished the
basement
recently, I installed radiant floor heat. I run 90 deg water through
the
system. I have a mixing valve installed between the hot of the boiler
and
the return of the loops. Water comes back at 85 deg and the boiler
mixes
enough hot back in to bring it back to 90 deg. Check out
www.radiantcompany.com . They are out of Vermont. I purchased most
materials
through them.

You got ripped off!

They also figured out what size pex I needed, how many loops,
size pump. They also had a form you could fill out online which will
give
you a better idea of cost equipment needed with no obligation to buy.
Give
them a call. They were super friendy and helpful. By the way, Radiant
floor
heat is the best heat I ever felt.

You are one of the few ones that didn't have a problem with them. Go to
the
Wall (http://forums.invision.net/Main.cfm?CFApp=2) and put 'Vermont
company'
and 'radiant company' in the search function. Look at the responses.

Radiant heat is the best, in that statement you are very correct.


"Randy Bishop" wrote in message
...
Hi all:

I have a 2600 sq ft 2 story home built in 1846. I also have cast
iron
radiators in both floors, which are the primary heat source. We have
an
oil
fired boiler which is five years old & 87% efficient att last
measurement.
We would like to convert to radiant floor heat as we have total
access
to
the underside of the first floor. Anyone have experience/advice on
retrofit of a radian heat system in older homes?

Randy

HeatMan wrote:
No one there '****es and moans' about DIY's. We just don't like DIY's that
call us back after the mail order radiant systems don't work right either
from the error of the company that sold it to them or installation error.
Usually, the cost of fixing most errors ends up being more than the
installation would have cost if a trained, licensed contractor had done the
install to start with.

A real professional would welcome this situation. It's an opportunity
to help someone and make some money.

I have a closed system. And yes the general opinion I got from that site
was, if you buy on the internet, it's not getting done right. In your
defense I agree there are companies out there that sell and run. I also
agree that a lot of DIYs shouldn't delve into things they don't understand.
But it is their time and money and their decision. In a case like that, it
will come back to the professional, like yourself. At that point , you set
your price to repair what was not installed right. It's a lesson learned for
the homeowner and work for you, if you want it.Why you would be upset for a
homeowner to call you and offer you work is beyond me, whether it be an
original install or fix a job the homeowner messed up? Maybe when you place
your adds in the yellow pages you should list "Original Installs Only. Will
not fix your screwups". Then I would know not to call you! Try it. See if it
works. In fact, tell me the area you work in and I'll advertise for you for
free. Just like we are here.
All hostilities aside(did I spell hostilities right). I have done, and
will continue to do, more repeat business with professionals that are
willing to steer me in the right direction when I feel up to the challenge
of a DIY project than the "POMPOUS ASS" that looks down his/her nose at you.
Let me tell you what I mean by all this. I built my house 7 years ago. I
ended up hiring a Father & Son contractor that left a previous contractor
relationship and started their own business. They were honest and friendly
as the day was long. They were outbid by one other contractor but I decided
they were the ones to build our house. During construction, I learned more
from them about home systems than anyone could imagine. They weren't afraid
to share their knowledge. In fact I always referred to the Father as a
teacher. He taught me not to be afraid to fix/repair/install things. If I
ever got in a pickle, he said call him. And trust me, I did.! They couldn't
do enough for me. And til this day, all I need to do is pick up the phone
and they are there. At that time they built me a 1800 sq. ft. ranch home,
turn key for $100,000. Since then I've had my hand in them getting 3 other
homes to build. Presently they are building 1/4 million dollar homes or
better for people better off than myself. And you know what? I could still
call them to this day, and they would help me out either with knowledge,
tools, or a helping hand when I needed it. They never advertised once. All
sucess is due to word of mouth. That's the best advertising you can get.
Don't be like the rest of the "PROFESSIONALS", stand above them.
Trust me, you'll be rewarded with work you couldn't imagine.
"HeatMan" wrote in message
. ..
No one there '****es and moans' about DIY's. We just don't like DIY's
that
call us back after the mail order radiant systems don't work right either
from the error of the company that sold it to them or installation error.
Usually, the cost of fixing most errors ends up being more than the
installation would have cost if a trained, licensed contractor had done
the
install to start with.

Oh, do you have an open system or a closed system? It makes a big
difference


"Beeper" wrote in message
...
I went to the site you pointed out and read an hour worth of ****ing and
moaning by contractors about DIYers. I did not find in any one post that
pointed out radiantcompany of vermont as a problem. There was 1 general
statement about a company in vermont, but I'm sure there is a few. I did
my
homework before I started and now have a fine running system. Could it be
you are one of those contractors ****ing and moaning because someone
didn't
pay you 30-40 dollars an hour to screw down 750 conduit straps to hold
the
pex in place for a gypcrete pour over an existing concrete slab? At 30 $
an
hour, that alone would have ran me $1000. I was told by a local
contractor
starting into the radiant business, that the system I installed would
have
ran $12,000-$16,000 by most of the thieves in the business. When all was
said and done, total costs to me $3,700. (the gyprcrete pour was $2,500
of
that $3,700.
"HeatMan" wrote in message
. ..
Oh my heavens!

"Beeper" wrote in message
...
I also have a boiler and hot water baseboard. When I finished the
basement
recently, I installed radiant floor heat. I run 90 deg water through
the
system. I have a mixing valve installed between the hot of the boiler
and
the return of the loops. Water comes back at 85 deg and the boiler
mixes
enough hot back in to bring it back to 90 deg. Check out
www.radiantcompany.com . They are out of Vermont. I purchased most
materials
through them.

You got ripped off!

They also figured out what size pex I needed, how many loops,
size pump. They also had a form you could fill out online which will
give
you a better idea of cost equipment needed with no obligation to buy.
Give
them a call. They were super friendy and helpful. By the way, Radiant
floor
heat is the best heat I ever felt.

You are one of the few ones that didn't have a problem with them. Go
to
the
Wall (http://forums.invision.net/Main.cfm?CFApp=2) and put 'Vermont
company'
and 'radiant company' in the search function. Look at the responses.

Radiant heat is the best, in that statement you are very correct.


"Randy Bishop" wrote in message
...
Hi all:

I have a 2600 sq ft 2 story home built in 1846. I also have cast
iron
radiators in both floors, which are the primary heat source. We have
an
oil
fired boiler which is five years old & 87% efficient att last
measurement.
We would like to convert to radiant floor heat as we have total
access
to
the underside of the first floor. Anyone have experience/advice on
retrofit of a radian heat system in older homes?

Randy

"Randy Bishop" wrote in message
...
Hi all:

I have a 2600 sq ft 2 story home built in 1846. I also have cast iron
radiators in both floors, which are the primary heat source. We have an
oil
fired boiler which is five years old & 87% efficient att last measurement.
We would like to convert to radiant floor heat as we have total access to
the underside of the first floor. Anyone have experience/advice on
retrofit of a radiant heat system in older homes?

Randy

Randy,

No one can tell you how possible it is to install radiant unless they look
at it. Is your house heated with steam or hot water(radiators can be
either)? How well insulated is it? And so on and so forth.... Go to the
Wall and ask at http://forums.invision.net/Main.cfm?CFApp=2

IMO, you need to find someone that knows what they are doing. Go here and
find one: http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm

Good luck!